Calls for Sir Ian McKellen to return his knighthood after he accused the Queen of being ‘rude’ and ‘quite mad’

Sir Ian McKellen has been called upon to return his knighthood after accusing the late Queen of being “rude” and “completely mad”.

The veteran actor made the comments during a recent newspaper interview. He said: ‘The Queen, I’m sure she was quite angry at the end. And the few times I’ve met her, she was quite rude.’

His statements were criticized by royal experts, who even went so far as to say that the actor should be given back his knighthood.

Sir Ian received the award for his services to the performing arts in 1991. Seventeen years later, in 2008, the late monarch appointed him a Companion of Honour for services to drama and equality.

Speaking with The Daily ExpressRoyal biographer Margaret Holder said: ‘If Sir Ian feels so slighted by the Queen, he might consider giving up his knighthood, although he may regret it in the future.’

Sir Ian with Queen Elizabeth II as he received his Companion of Honour for services to drama and equality. The 85-year-old says he found the conversation during the ceremony ‘rude’

Sir Ian’s claims have been questioned by royal biographer Christopher Wilson, who questioned whether there were any known instances of the Queen being rude to anyone.

Dickie Arbiter, the late Queen’s official spokesman between 1988 and 2000 and one of her confidants, questioned why Sir Ian had accepted the prize in the first place.

In the same interview, the Lord of the Rings actor recounted a conversation he had while accepting his award in 2008.

The 85-year-old recalled the Queen saying: “You’ve been doing this for an awfully long time.” To which he replied: “Well, not as long as you.”

“I got a royal smile, but then she asked, ‘Does anyone actually go to the theater anymore?’” he said.

Sir Ian says he found the interaction “bloody rude”.

He added: ‘It meant, “Does anyone give a damn about you, because I don’t. Now go!”‘

However, Sir Ian’s claims have been questioned by royal biographer Christopher Wilson, who questioned whether there are any known instances of the Queen being rude to anyone.

Sir Ian was on the verge of turning down his knighthood, but was persuaded to accept it by his actor Michael Cashman, who told him it would open doors.

He said: ‘I mean, look at Sir Keir Starmer. A big part of his success was that the BBC had to keep calling him “Sir Keir”. It made him sound terribly respectable. Poor old Boris Johnson hasn’t even got an MBE.’